The Book

It was late in the autumn of 2210

The shuttle had gone off to Mars,

The highways of Asia were solidly blocked

With a billion Chinese cars,

I’d wandered around the Museum of Trees,

The Fruit Section opened my eyes,

The bitterness taste of electronic apples

So cleverly changed, and disguised.

 

I seemed to be wandering round on my own,

Museums were on their way out,

The Virtual Channels were simple to screen

And more easy to access, no doubt.

The ancient attendant had followed me round,

He warily started to say:

‘I have something hidden, way out in the back

If you’re interested, come out this way!’

 

He led to a room that was dingy and dark,

Went over and pulled up the blind,

The place was so dirty, with cobwebs and dust,

‘Not used much; I hope you don’t mind!’

And there on the table he pointed it out,

A thick slab of something - I looked,

‘You’ll not see another of these in your life,

‘What is it?’ I said. ‘It’s a book!’

 

He lifted the thick leather cover for me,

To show what he called was a page,

‘The government banned them in ’73,

They said they caused people to rage.

We’re not used to words on a scale such as this…’

There were words and more words, like a plague,

They dazzled my vision, I staggered a bit

Like a man who is struck with an ague.

 

He turned other pages, a hundred of them,

A thousand, I just couldn’t count,

And every one teeming with words on each page

So the figures continued to mount.

‘We’re used to see just fifteen words in a line,

We twitter and tweet all the time,

How could a person sit down with a book

With all that! - without blowing his mind?’

 

‘It’s called ‘General Knowledge’, the old man replied,

‘Not something you hear every day,

And fabulous stories and verses in rhyme,

And the glory of history’s sway.

There once was a time, there were millions of these,

Each home had a shelf full of books,

But once our technology grabbed at our minds

We were lost, we were pretty well hooked!’

 

‘The government knew it was dumbing us down,

You can’t fight what you’ll never know,

By banning the books and the Libraries

Our minds were beginning to slow.’

I left there quite thoughtful, I needed to write

How misled we had been, and were blind,

I started with paper, a pen and some ink

And believe it! - I wrote it in rhyme!

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Doreen]

Yes! It's a sad tale because it's so true. Technology will be the death of us; people walk along like sheep not realizing this. Heaven forbid we should know what Big Brother is up to; we, the people, might just do something to change it. Books are becoming antique, which is sad. I can't imagine a life without them. You penned this perfectly, sir. Very well done. :)

[*** Hey Jude***]

On my way off by had to come by for a bedtime read! It is nice to go to the Cafe Home page, and know you will always find treasures to read! “Looking” through your eye’s perspective is always a Delight David! Thank your for sharing all the wealth held within your stories ~ :-)

[Helen Crutchett]

"I’d wandered around the Museum of Trees,
The Fruit Section opened my eyes,
The bitterness taste of electronic apples
So cleverly changed, and disguised."
(Oh dear, that made me shudder!)
Perish the thought, electronic apples!! :(

You are such "a visionary" dear poet! Don't even get me started on twittering and tweeting!!!

I loved your concept of books being 'hidden' from view, like they are too controversial to even set eyes upon.

What a poor, poor world it would be if books vanished off the face of the earth, which the way things are going, could very well be.

Oh David, I so long for the day of the pen with a nib, dipped into an inkwell, stained ink fingers and blotting paper! Those were the days my friend, and only those who lived then can understand!

One of your best I think my dear poet friend!

[the_stoic]

i used to love reading books at one point of time but now this technology has alienated me from that good old habit. beautifully written sir ~

[Coyote Poetry]

Sometime I believe the media controlled by the government is making us weak in mind and thoughts. One sided views are never good. I enjoyed this story. Almost felt like today. Here in Detroit, Michigan. Want to close all libraries. Knowledge is power. When we allow the government to control all. We will be finished. A great story. You made me think.
Coyote

[Lisa Ring]

It is sad how everything is reduced to a sound bite or the least characters possible so tht we al nd up writng lke dis n we al look like complete morons. And we are producing people who do not pay attention, nor do they think about anything in depth. I have four children and I have fought society as much as possible, yet despite my beliefs, technology rules. I do so hope that your marvelous poem never becomes reality.

[Heather]

interesting write on how technology could change everything in the future. I however do not think we will ever ban books.. at least I hope that is not the future my children's children grow up in.

This is beyond magic dear poet, and my genre I loved this before hectic new journeys of the day will make me confused and can sleep now thank you a lot
I felt not lonely anymore by the thought I'm rare...

Elisa Laura (Eli)

[Tate Morgan]

Oh that hit a cord for sure .Truth is we use texting and abbreviated words now all the time to communicate sterile and without real emotion My son broke up with a girl by texting it offended my sensibilities that a man could injure a girls heart and not face her to do it So i made him talk to her. We are getting way to impersonal i hate it .Bravo to the truths set out by the poet

[Valentine]

David..another naqil hit on the head..over here cursive writing is being r3moved from schools as all the feel you need to know is on the computer..in print..I hate to think what the next generations of my family and others,,will be living like..or if there will be anything left to live ffor..Another GEM my friend..love and G0d bless you both..Kathie

[Lena M. P.]

Sad but too true. Even publishers now get upset with "too much information. get to the action!" They want the swift fix, the adrenaline rush without anything else in between. I guess this is due to the computers, phone and social media. Even training has gotten to be "I don't care why it works just tell me how to use it." No background concepts. You know back in time the churches didn't want people reading and deciphering the bible so they forbid people to read it. You may have a very valid point here. I too see books becoming obsolete in our time. It is a shame. Nothing like the feel and smell of books to make you want to cuddle up and dream.